Seborrhoeic Dermatitis

Key facts

• Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a recurring skin condition that produces greasy, flaking patches on oil-rich areas of the body, most often the scalp, but also the eyebrows, sides of the nose, behind the ears, and the central chest.
• It is not contagious and not caused by poor hygiene.
• Overgrowth of Malassezia, a yeast that lives naturally on skin, is a key driver; stress, fatigue, cold or dry weather, and oily skin tend to worsen flares.
• Short courses of a topical corticosteroid such as mometasone, part of the skin care range, bring inflamed flares under control.

What it is

Seborrhoeic dermatitis produces greasy, flaking patches on the oil-rich areas of the skin. The scalp is affected most often, showing up as persistent dandruff or thicker scaly patches, but redness and scaling also appear on the eyebrows, the sides of the nose, behind the ears, and the central chest. It runs a chronic, relapsing course: periods of clear skin alternate with flare-ups rather than the condition resolving for good.

What triggers flare-ups

The exact cause isn't fully understood, but overgrowth of Malassezia, a yeast that lives naturally on everyone's skin, is a key factor in most cases. Stress, fatigue, cold or dry weather, and naturally oily skin all tend to make flares worse. Because the trigger is a normal skin organism rather than an infection caught from someone else, the condition is not contagious.

How it's treated

Topical corticosteroids are the standard short-term treatment for inflamed flare-ups. Mometasone, available through the skin care range, is commonly used to bring redness, itching, and scaling under control. Antifungal shampoos and creams that target Malassezia are also widely used, often alongside a steroid during a flare and on their own for maintenance. Treatment generally controls flares rather than curing the condition outright, since flare-ups tend to recur.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor if patches spread widely, don't improve with over-the-counter treatment, or become painful, weepy, or crusted, which can suggest a secondary infection needing separate treatment.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.